February 25th, 2013Final Summary of Stakeholder Proposed Amendments to the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013
This document provides a revised and final summary of the stakeholder-proposed amendments to the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013. This final draft includes stakeholder comments on captive producers and application counselors and replaces the summary that was discussed at the stakeholder meeting on February 19, 2013 in the Joint Hearing Room in Annapolis (the second in a series of three stakeholder meetings to solicit public comment and discuss proposed amendments to the Act).MHPA of 2013.Stakeholder Proposed Amendments

February 19th, 2013Summary of Stakeholder-proposed Amendments to the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013
This document provides a summary of the stakeholder-proposed amendments to the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013. The summary was discussed at the stakeholder meeting on February 19, 2013 in the Joint Hearing Room in Annapolis (the second in a series of three stakeholder meetings to solicit public comment and discuss proposed amendments to the Act).MHPA of 2013.Stakeholder Proposed Amendments 2.19.13

January 28th, 2013Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013
On January 28, the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform (GOHR) and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown convened a public meeting to discuss the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013 (SB 274/HB 228). Two additional public meetings will be held on February 19 and March 7 on this topic.

January 22nd, 2013First Stakeholder Meeting
The first public stakeholder meeting on the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013was held on Monday, January 28, 2013, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in theJoint Committee Hearing Room,located in the Legislative Services Building, 90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401.

The Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013 (SB 274/HB 228) constitutes the last step in the State’s three-year effort to establish its health benefit exchange, enhance access to affordable coverage, and fully implement the other protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Maryland. It includes the expansion of Medicaid as permitted under the ACA; the establishment of a dedicated funding stream for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange from the existing premium tax on health insurers; provisions to move enrollees of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP) into the Exchange in a manner that eases their transition and mitigates the potential impact on rates; provisions to ensure continuity of care for those switching insurance policies and moving in and out of Medicaid and commercial insurance, and other necessary changes to become fully compliant with the ACA. The complete bill text is now available on the website of the Maryland General Assembly: House Bill 228, SB 274

This first stakeholder meeting included introductory remarks by Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, a detailed discussion of the proposed legislation, and an overview of the process for public input.

December 19th, 2012Meeting: HCRCC Selects Essential Health Benefits Benchmark
The Health Care Reform Coordinating Council (HCRCC) recommended changes in the State’s EHB benchmark at its meeting on December 17, 2012. The changes are intended to promote greater stability in the small group and non-group markets when essential health benefits go into effect on January 1, 2014, and to provide for enhancements to behavioral health and habilitative services benefits.

The HCRCC recommended the following changes:
1.Adopt the State’s largest small group plan (CareFirst BlueChoice HMO HSA Open Access plan) as Maryland’s base benchmark plan;
2. Import into EHB in the non-group market the State mandates not already covered by the small group plan;
3. Designate for the State’s behavioral health benefit a benefit that better achieves parity (GEHA Standard Option federal employee plan); and
4. Designate for the State’s habilitative services benefit the current state mandate up to age 19, with adoption of small group rehabilitative benefit as habilitative benefit for over age 19.